Livestock feeding systems and feed gaps in East African smallholder farms
Dairy development is a promising pathway out of poverty for smallholder farmers as demand for animal-sourced foods is projected to rise. Feed is a critically limiting factor in productivity of smallholder dairy systems in East Africa. This study aims to introduce and provide proof-of-concept for a relatively simple approach to quantify feeding systems and feed gaps in data-scarce smallholder systems. Feed gap here is defined as the difference between livestock feed demand for an attainable milk production level (attainable feed demand) and actual feed supply at individual herd level.
Policy note on Kenya’s draft agriculture sector Gender Policy
The Agriculture Sector Gender Policy has been reviewed and revised through six key thematic areas – Gender and Social Inclusion (GeSI) and the five thematic areas in Agriculture that intersect with gender, namely, Agriculture Value Chain Development (AVCD); Food and Nutrition Security (FNS); Climate Change (CC); National and Devolved Governance; and the Strategic Analysis Knowledge Support System (SAKSS), in eight Regional Economic Blocs (REB). Evidence of gender gaps and their determinants in agricultural productivity in Africa exists.
A Gender-responsive approach to Community-Based Adaptation in Guinayangan, Quezon
This study highlighted the importance of farmers’ understanding of the climate change effects, and identified recommendations on how to target women and enhance support services to increase the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers. However, measures to increase women’s participation should be tailored to the local context. It would not be prudent to generalize recommendations for engaging women across different geographic, agroecological and socio-cultural contexts. Land tenure considerations must also be factored in planning the CSA interventions.
An assessment of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) in low- and lower-middle income countries in Asia and Africa, and its potential contribution to sustainable development
For Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) to make a meaningful contribution to SAI in low- and lower-middle income countries, there is a need for investment in research, capacity development, enterprise initiation, scaling, and creation of enabling environments (through policies at national and sub-national levels). To attract investment and justify policy change, more information is needed on the potential contribution of CEA to sustainable development, and where, how, by whom, and for whom various technologies might be best deployed. The purpose of this report is:
Transforming Local Livelihoods to Community Enterprises in Guinayangan, Quezon Province
The transformation of livelihoods to community based enterprises entails time, involves community participation and support from local government units. This paper will describe the processes by which the initial phase of agri fishery enterprise development in the Municipality of Guinayangan was implemented. This project was undertaken in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Region IV A and, the local government of Guinayangan
A Guide to Scaling Resource Recovery & Reuse (RRR) Business Innovations in Africa and Asia
Domestic waste is a continuously increasing urbanization challenge. Over the last decade, researchers with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) have developed, tested and implemented (e.g. as PPP) a variety of RRR technologies and business models that simultaneously reduce the waste burden and support the return of resources like crop nutrients, biosolids and reclaimed water to agricultural production. The review compared over 20 scaling models and tools to identify those which best support the RRR innovations.
One CGIAR and the Integrated Agri-food Systems Initiative: From short-termism to transformation of the world’s food systems
Agri-food systems are besieged by malnutrition, yield gaps, and climate vulnerability, but integrated, research-based responses in public policy, agricultural, value chains, and finance are constrained by short-termism and zero sum thinking. As they respond to current and emerging agri-food system challenges, decision makers need new tools that steer toward multi-sector, evidence-based collaboration. To support national agri-food system policy processes, the Integrated Agri-food System Initiative (IASI) methodology was devel oped and validated through case studies in Mexico and Colombia.